Modified Austin Mini Supercharged 1998 Pictures 
WHERE IS THE LOVE?
For a while Minis almost disappeared in to obscurity, all but for a few die-hard enthusiasts who were determined to keep the love alive.
gallery (47 photos)
The old skool Mini was a post war, post Suez Crisis feat of engineering that came to symbolize a more chilled out, peace loving society in Britain. But far from being just for tie-die wearing hippys that painted theirs with flowers and CND symbols, it was also popular with racing drivers, film makers and even the Queen. It may not seem that revolutionary now but in a time when cramped, underpowered, barely steerable bubble cars were all the rage, the Mini offered agility, space and more fun than we’d have ever thought possible in a dinky, affordable family car.
Various race versions like the Cooper and Cooper S started to emerge much later, these came off the back of Mini’s very successful Motorsport Career; it is probably remembered best for its winning hat-trick at the Monte Carlo Rally in the south of France. Come the 1990’s though and Mini was starting to loose its kudos to cars like the Golf GTi and the Peugeot 205 GTi. By 2000 the brand was sold to BMW who were to launch a sexier, more sophisticated version with more poke, better safety and no knocks or rattles. The majority of us fickle consumers were mesmerized and why wouldn’t we be, it had distinctive styling, cutting edge technology and wasn’t likely to leave us stranded at the side of the motorway waiting for the AA man. But there was also a backlash from the enthusiasts who had grown up with the real Mccoy, you see they didn’t care that their little motor might need the rust welding or a bit of gentle coaxing on cold mornings. For them being able to see the engine and tinker with it was all part of the nostalgia and these enthusiasts are the ones that have kept their Leyland and Rover Mini’s gleaming like they were bought from the show room yesterday.
Of the handful of authentic Mini’s that still remain there are also those that have been modified with the same tender loving care that you and I would give a top of the range Audi. In fact Norwegian Brede Alnes has given his Mini the Audi treatment or so to speak. Working for the infamous TS Racing in the bitter cold climbs of Lorenskog on the outskirts of Norway has meant that Brede is very familiar with the processes that go on between the workshop and these Germanic trophies with their four grille-mounted interlocking rings. Fans come from Sweden, Germany and all over Europe to have their Audi’s remapped. So, thought Brede he may as well utilise the resources that were on hand to him even if that meant going against the grain.
For Brede, it always had to be a Mini, his neighbour had owned one when he was just 12 and after getting a lift to school in it, he decided that he would one day have his own. In 2002 his opportunity came when he was flicking through the classified ads of a magazine. The Mini’s then owner was Scottish and had used it for scooting around the Highlands in. He had kept it standard but habitually got it serviced and took great care not to get its paintwork scathed. Brede also managed to resist any tampering for a good few months but after this period of gruelling abstention he was soon making up for it with a healthy stash of engine components being sent over from Avonbar Racing in Essex, UK and a Zeemax bodykit from Britain’s flatlands of Norfolk. Painting these new panels was not exactly a job you could get done in your lunch break, neither was it something that Brede was particularly skilled at but it isn’t always about what you know but who you know and so the artwork was delegated to a friend. Once the bodywork was assembled and the Mini was sitting 80mm lower on a fully adjustable suspension and BMW’s Mini Cooper S brakes were fitted, the real fun could begin.
Yep, you’ve got it, turbocharging! Brede had seen too many Mini’s with Jap engines and had decided that his would be just as impressive as a Rover convert. The KKK turbo, code-named K27 is usually fitted in Audi RS2’s giving them an explosive 400 break. Brede knew they were very reliable and could get hold of one pretty sharpish; he had also done his research out in the Mini community to ascertain how his exhaust header would respond. According to Brede fitting twin turbos is often the tripping wire for Mini’s as they only excel until about 3000 to 4000rpm and then they flatline. With this single larger turbo the power kicks in about 3500rpm and just keeps on coming.
The engine work was Brede’s moment to shine; even with the tiddily space in the engine bay he was determined to give it his best. Of course there were moments of frustration and bare-faced rage like when he made a section of pipe and spent hours trying to fit it only to have to admit defeat and start all over again but he came out the other side a better man – especially as he can gloat now! Just marvel at that custom built intercooler and the air intake on the bonnet which takes on the same shape as the car’s radiator aperture; these are Einstein facets, surely.
The snide genius even lists metal work in his glowing repertoire of skills and the aluminium panelling inside the car doors is testament to this. The dashboard is also up to sports car standards and check out the roll cage that’s again garnished in this lightweight metal (not entirely safe though). The rear seats were without a purpose as far as Brede was concerned; our Norwegian guru has instead taken our focus to the one-piece Sabelt racing bucket seats with Schroth harnesses. You’ll be grateful of these when the Mini’s brute 200 horses comes in to full force. This 1998 Rover Mini can also top 125mph without any bits flying off which should make the British proud, especially Mr John Cooper. It has to be said that for an original artefact, it is an absolute stunner, so come on guys, bring back the love.
CAR MAKE & MODEL
Modified Austin Mini Supercharged 1998 Pictures
CAR REF NUMBER
23375
CAR COLOUR
Blue
ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
in-line four-cylinder, 1380cc,
kkk k27 turbocharger,
original block with enlarged 73.5mm bores,
avonbar racing ported cylinder head with big valve conversion,
avonbar racing camshaft,
custom stainless steel turbo pipework,
custom stainless steel exhaust system (2.5-inch diameter),
standard four-speed gearbox,
80-percent limited slip differential
SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS
spax adjustable system, polyeurethane bushes throughout
ALLOY WHEELS
alleycat alloy wheels (13-inch)
TYRES
bridgestone potenza tyres (175/50/13)
BRAKES
bmw mini cooper s system with four-pot calipers, stainless steel braided hoses
EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
original tahiti blue metallic paint, zeemax body kit
INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
aluminium roll cage (cosmetic only),
sabelt bucket racing seats,
schroth racing harnesses,
aluminium trim to doors and dashboard
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